Booking choice: The RIB and hike combo, 7 hours. Book this Tour details
Search for a Preikestolen tour and the first results are fjord cruises and RIB rides. They are good trips. They sail into the Lysefjord, pass under the cliff and turn back. You stay on board.
The hike is a different experience: about four hours on foot to the flat plateau itself. Here is what each one gives you, the combos that do both, and how to choose.
The quick answer
A boat shows you Preikestolen from the fjord, 604 m below, along with waterfalls, caves and wildlife; it takes 2 to 3.5 hours and suits any fitness. Only the hike puts you on the plateau. To get both, the RIB and hike combo does the fjord in the morning and the trail after.
Do Preikestolen boat tours go to the top?
No. Cruises and RIB tours show Preikestolen from the water and do not stop for the hike.
The cliff is the highlight of a Lysefjord cruise, so its name sits in the tour titles. Read the listing: if it says “from below” or does not mention hiking, you stay on the boat.
| Tour | Format | Length | On the plateau? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric fjord cruise | Electric catamaran | 3.5 hours | No, seen from below |
| Catamaran cruise | Low-emission boat | 2.5 hours | No, seen from below |
| RIB boat tour | Fast open RIB | 2 hours | No, seen from below |
| RIB and hike combo | RIB, then guided hike | 7 hours | Yes, on foot |
| Guided hike | Bus and guided hike | 6 hours | Yes, on foot |
What do you see from a Preikestolen boat tour?
The cliff from below, the Lysefjord bridge, the Fantahålå cave, the Hengjanefossen waterfall and, with luck, goats, seals and sea eagles.
Boats from Stavanger pass under the Lysefjord bridge and slow down beneath the cliff, according to Rødne. Fantahålå, the Vagabond's Cave, is where outlaws once hid. Hengjanefossen drops about 400 m, and boats often come close enough to feel the spray.
Mountain goats graze the shore mainly in spring and summer. Seals, porpoises and sea eagles turn up now and then. From the water, the plateau reads as a ledge high on the wall, not the giant slab you see in photos.
What does the hike give you that the boat can't?
Standing on the plateau and looking down the fjord, which is the view on the postcards.
The top is a flat granite square of about 25 by 25 m with the Lysefjord straight below. That view, and the walk through marsh, forest and granite to reach it, is what the hike is about.
The price is time and effort: about 4 hours on foot, 8 km and some steep stone steps. In summer you share it with a lot of people. See how long the hike takes.
Cruise or RIB: which boat should you pick?
Pick a cruise for comfort, indoor seats and any age; pick a RIB for speed, spray and a shorter trip.
The electric cruise listing states 3.5 hours on a quiet catamaran with panoramic windows and a sun deck, and it is wheelchair accessible. The catamaran cruise is shorter at 2.5 hours, with commentary in six languages.
The RIB tour is 2 hours on an open boat. Flotation suits, goggles and gloves are provided, and the listing says it is not suitable for children under 6, pregnant travellers or people with back problems. Expect to get wet near the waterfalls.
Want the calm version? The electric catamaran sails rain or shine, with indoor seating and a sun deck.
Book thisCan you do a boat trip and the hike in one day?
Yes. The RIB and hike combo does both in about 7 hours, and in midsummer you can pair a morning cruise with an afternoon hike on your own.
On the RIB and hike combo, a RIB takes you into the Lysefjord, drops you at a quay, and a minibus runs you to the trailhead for a guided hike. The listing states groups of up to 12 and a minibus back to Stavanger.
Going independently works too in June and July, when the official latest start is 17:30. A morning cruise, lunch in town and an afternoon hiker bus is a full but realistic day. Book the bus online first.
The fjord by RIB in the morning, the plateau on foot after lunch: both views, one booking.
Book this Tour detailsWhich is better for cruise ship passengers?
With 8 hours or more in port, hike or take the combo; with less, take a boat.
Go Fjords suggests allowing about 6 hours for the hike from Stavanger. The combo listing says it is designed for ships docking 8 hours or more. The RIB tour check-in is a few minutes' walk from the cruise terminal, so it fits a short call.
For timings on multi-ship days, read Preikestolen from a cruise ship.
Who should choose a boat tour?
Anyone with limited mobility, small children, a short stop, or no wish to hike for four hours.
- Limited mobility: the electric cruise is listed as wheelchair accessible.
- Young children: the cruise suits any age, while the hiking tours start at 6 or 7.
- Short on time: 2 to 3.5 hours, leaving from central Stavanger.
- Winter visitors: Rødne runs its Lysefjord cruise all year, Thursday to Sunday from October to March.
Who should hike instead?
Anyone reasonably fit with half a day to spare who wants to stand on the rock.
If the photo in your head is you on the plateau, only the hike delivers it. Fit adults manage the trail without a guide from May to October. Without a car, the guided hike and the small-group hike handle the transport.
Between November and April, book the winter cruise and hike: a Lysefjord cruise, then a guided snow hike with spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Preikestolen from a fjord cruise?
Yes, from directly below. Boats slow down under the cliff, which rises 604 m above the water.
Do any boats drop you off to hike?
The RIB and hike combo does: the RIB lands you at a quay and a minibus takes you to the trailhead for a guided hike.
Will I get wet on the RIB?
Probably near the waterfalls. Flotation suits, goggles and gloves are provided, and the operator asks you to secure phones and hats.
Do boat tours run when it rains?
The electric cruise listing says it sails rain or shine. Bring a jacket for the deck.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation on every option: up to 24 hours before on most, 2 days on the winter trip.
RIB Safari & Pulpit Rock Hike Combo
See it from the fjord in the morning, stand on it after lunch
Electric Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord & Preikestolen
- Round-trip cruise from Stavanger
- Fully electric catamaran with panoramic windows
- Sun deck and indoor seating
RIB Boat Tour to Lysefjord & Preikestolen
Two hours of speed, caves and waterfalls (ages 6+)
